Radio control device



July 11, 1939. T. D. BRoss RADIO CONTROL DEvIcA Filed Jan, 25, 1937 Patented July l1, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT f OFFICE Ramo coNTaoL DEVICE Theodore D. Bross, Hartford, Conn. application January 25, 1937, serial No. 122,111 s omnia (ci. 179-2) This invention relates to a radio control device which will operate as a remote control for a radio receiving set.

As it is very annoying to use a telephone in the vicinity of a radio during the reception of a program, its is desirable to provide means whereby the sound of a radio, or other similar devices such as'electric phonographs, etc., may be lowered or entirely eiiminatedwhlle the telephone is being used.

The object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a device which is operated upon the raising of the telephone receiver 'and whereby the volume of sound produced by the radio. or any similar device, may be automatically lowered or eliminated during the use of a telephone.

A further object of my invention is to provide a circuit controlling device which is adaptable to various systems of radio circuits and a still iurther object is to provide such a device which is especially adapted for use with a French type telephone instrument.

One embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure i is a front view, in elevation, of a French type telephone instrument with parts thereof broken away and showing my improved device attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a plan view, in' elevation, of an improved switch embodying my invention.

Figure 3 is a side view thereof, in central vertical section.

Figure 4 is a front view, in central vertical section, showing the same as used in connection with two different systems of radio circuits.

As illustrated in the drawing, the numeral 5 denotes the base of a well known French type telephone instrument having the usual combination receiver and transmitter hand set 6 which is supported in a cradle 1 within which is mounted the vertically movable operating plunger 8 of the telephone. My invention provides an electric switch 9 comprising a shell Il) having a switch plunger Il slidably mounted therein for operating a circuit closing bar l2. Contact members |3-I3 are mounted in said shell and are provided with attaching means, such as screws |I-I4, for attaching the Wires oi a circuit thereto.

A cover l5 is secured to the said shell by means of screws I6. 'I'he Said cover is provided with a recess in which is mounted a coil spring I1 for moving the circuit closing bar l2 towards a circuit closing position wherein the said bar is in engagement with the contacts I3-I3 and a. set

of contacts l-IB is also provided in said cover.

As illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing, the numeral i9 indicates a radio receiving set to which is connected an antenna 2B, by means of a lead wire 2l, and a ground 22, by means of a g lead Wire 23.

In the embodiment of my invention as illustrated, the switch 9 is attached to the telephone instrument by means of a clamp 2t which ts around the neck of the telephone base and 1e is positioned thereon by means of a bead 26 which is usually found on such sets. The said clamp extends through apertures 2l in the shell I0 of the switch, which is clamped to the said neck of the telephone base by means of nuts 28. A clamping bar 29 is provided between the said switch shell and neck; the said bar being provided with. a notch 3@ adapted to receive a portion oi the bead 2S so as to position the clamping bar and switch securely in engagement with said neclr.

When it is desired to control the operation of a radio receiving set as indicated at I9, a lead wire 3l is connected between the lead wire 2l of the antenna and one of the contacts i3 and 25 another lead wire 32 is connected between the lead wire .23 of the ground and the other contact i3. It will be seen from the illustration in Figure 1, that when the said switch is mounted to the telephone instrument of the French type, 3e as above described, the switch operating plunger il will extend upwardly through the opening 33, which is commonly provided in suchtelephone sets, and contact with the telephone operating plunger 35 When the hand set 6 is lifted o the cradle 'l of the telephone instrument for the use of the telephone, the operating plunger 8 will move upwardly. This will permit the spring il of the switch to raise the switch operating plunger il .and cause the circuit closing bar l2 to come into Vengagement with the contacts I3-I3 and thereby shunting the circuit between the antenna 20 and the ground 22 through the lead wires 3| and 32. This will cause the sound of the radio receiving set to be reduced to avconsiderable extent while still permitting the radio set to produce audible sound; thus permitting the use of the telephone without interruption or annoyance from the radio set and at the same time allowing other persons near the radio to hear the said radio. i

'I'he improved switch of my invention is also adapted for use in connection with radio receiv- -ing sets such as small table models, which are usually connected to only one of either the antenna or the ground.

As illustrated, the numeral 3l indicates such a radio receiving set which is connected to an antenna 35 by means of a lead wire 36. In such installations, my improved switch is connected in series with the antenna by means of lead wires 31 and 33, each of which are connected to one of the contactl members IB-IB in the cover of the switch.

The circuit closing bar I2 will rest in engagement with the contacts I8-I8 when the telephone instrument is not in use and the hand set 6 rests upon the operating plunger B. This keeps the switch plunger II in a down position.

and the said circuit closing bar I2 in a circuit closing position upon the contacts Iii-I8, When the telephone is being used, the operating plunger 8, moving upwardly, will release the switch` operating plunger II and, thereby cause the spring I'I to lift the circuit closing bar I2 out of engagement with the contacts III-I8 thus breaking the connection between the antenna and the radio receiving set 34. When the hand set 6 is again placed upon the member 8, the contact bar I2 will be moved downwardly; thus closing the connection between the contacts I8-I8 and restoring the connection between the antenna 35 and the radio receiving set 34 whereupon the sound of the said radio set is returned to its normal degree.

From the illustration and the above description, it will be clearly understood that I have provided an improved switch which is particularly adaptable for use in connection with French type telephone instruments for controlling the reception of a radio set, and that I have further provided a switch which is adaptable to various types of radio receiving circuits by simply changing the connections from one side oi? said switch to the other, such as connecting the lead wires to the contacts Iii-I3, at the top of the switch, for controlling a radio set having both an antenna and a ground, or connecting the lead wires to the contacts l-ISL at the bottom of the switch, for controlling a radio having only an antenna or a ground.

While I have shown and described one form of a switch comprising an embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same may be modied in construction to a greater or lesser extent without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth inthe appended claims.

I claim:

l. A radio control device comprising a switch adapted to be secured to the neck of the base of a French type telephone instrument and connected to a radio receiving circuit, the said switch having an operating member extending therefrom through an opening in said instrument and in position to be operated by a movable member of said instrument, a circuit closing bar operable by said operating member, a pair of contacts engageable by said bar for shunting the said radio circuit during the use oi said telephone instrumentv upon the release of an operating member thereof, and a separate set of contacts in said switch whereby a radio receiving circuit may be connected thereto for breaking the latter circuit during the said use of the telephone instrument.

2. In combination with a radio receiving set and a telephone instrument comprising a movable member; a. controlling device for said radio comprising a switch adapted to be mounted on said telephone instrument, the said switch having a pair of contacts adapted yto be connected to the said radio for shunting the antenna and ground thereof during the use of said telephone instrument and a separate pair of contacts adapted Vto be connected to an antenna of a radio receiving set for disconnecting the said receiving set from said antenna during the use of said telephone instrument, a circuit closing bar movable between said pairs of contacts and means adapted to be engaged with said movable member for operating said bar.

3. In combination with a radio receiving set and a telephone instrument comprising a receiver; a device for controlling the operation of said radio comprising a switch adapted to be mounted onsaid instrument, a circuit closing bar in said switch, a pair of contacts adapted to be engaged by said bar upon the lifting of said receiver from said telephone instrument and a separate pair of contacts in said switch adapted to be engaged by said operating bar when the said receiver is replaced upon the said instrument.

4. In combination with a French type telephone instrument, a radio circuit; controlling switch comprising a casing, clamping means comprising a U-shaped member having its ends extending through said casing for clamping the same to the neck portion of said telephone instrument, and an operating member adapted to operate said switch upon the lifting of the receiver of said telephone instrument.

5. For a telephone instrument having a movable member and an opening adjacent thereto; a radio circuit controlling switch adapted to be mounted on said instrument and including means extending through said opening for operating said switch by movement of said movable member.

6. In combination with a radio receiving circuit and a telephone instrument having a movable member and an opening adjacent thereto; a controlling device for said radio comprising a switch adapted to be mounted on said telephone instrument, the said switch having a pair of contacts adapted to be connected to said circuit, a circuit closing bar in said switch and means extending from said switch through said opening for actuating said bar by movement of said movable member.

THEODORE D. BROSS. 

